Scott Sanfilippohttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com
Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:00:03 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.121657232Royal Caribbean and Others Open Bookings for Cruises to Cuba while Carnival ends Cruises on fathomhttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/12/royal-caribbean-and-others-open-bookings-for-cruises-to-cuba-while-carnival-ends-cruises-on-fathom/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/12/royal-caribbean-and-others-open-bookings-for-cruises-to-cuba-while-carnival-ends-cruises-on-fathom/#respondFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:56:32 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9840Carnival Corporation’s fathom line, which offered people-to-people cruises to the Dominican Republic and more recently Cuba, will see soon its final sailings. As I and many others have predicted, the concept of taking a vacation to do humanitarian aid in underdeveloped counties wasn’t what cruise goers wanted to do on their time off.

The one ship cruise line will cease operations “by June 2017” and the Adonia will go back to the P&O Cruises fleet where she came from. However, the “social impact” shore excursions that were designed to meet the requirements of Cuba cruising will be made available to the other brands under the Carnival umbrella.

Under the Obama administration, United States relations with Cuba were relaxed and cruises were allowed to resume as long as the trip to the country fell into one of these 12 categories as listed on Royal Caribbean’s Cuba FAQ page:

Carnival Corporation was the first cruise line to gain approval to sail from the United States to the land that time forgot and did so on fathom’s Adonia.

Earlier this week the Cuban government granted approval for more United States based cruise lines to begin sailing and so far there’s been no shortage of announcements regarding when cruisers can hop on their favorite ship-brand and sail. Here’s who will begin offering cruises to Cuba in 2017:

Royal Caribbean: Empress of the Seas, first cruise set for April 2017 from PortMiami then the ship will be moved to Tampa. Now booking with prices starting at $479.

So far, Carnival Cruise Line has not made any announcement concerning Cuba cruises for any of their brands following the news of fathom’s demise.

Royal Caribbean currently has the most affordable prices on Cuba cruises on the Empress of the Seas. The Empress is a 1,840 passenger ship which recently underwent a $50M revitalization after returning the the fleet following a run with sister-line Pullmantur Cruises.

For those who want to visit Cuba, it appears Royal Caribbean is the most affordable choice at the moment.

Back in April I was in the passenger seat of one of my vehicles where I was being driven around like the big shot that I think I am. The driver of the vehicle proceeded through a red light and was captured on camera.

Like many cities around the country, Boynton Beach called upon American Traffic Solutions to catch motorists passing through lights that aren’t quite red yet, nailing them for not coming to a full stop at a right-on-red, or some other reason all in the name of safety.

But the truth of the matter is, it’s not in the name of safety. It’s a pure, 100% money grab and cities know it. It’s nothing more than a scheme to line the coffers of cities who are seeing less and less tax revenue and are looking for additional sources of cash.

Boynton Beach turned their cameras on about five years ago. They then shut them off for a while after judges were throwing tickets out of court due to a ruling in Hollywood, a city about a half hour south. A court ruling stated that Hollywood could not delegate ticket-writing duties to a third-party vendor, namely American Traffic Solutions.

Seeing that hundreds of tickets were being tossed, Boynton shut off their cameras for a while while they worked on a plan that would make them stick. They turned them back on saying that a police officer reviews tickets before they are sent out to the unsuspecting motorist, a loophole that lets tickets stick.

With my bill for $158 in hand, I decided that I was going to do some research on how to avoid being extorted by the city of Boynton Beach and American Traffic Solutions, who both take a share of the cash.

Since I was not the driver of the vehicle, I could simply turn over the name of the person who was driving and they would then slap them with the $158 bill. But I wasn’t going to do that. Instead my research came up that in many instances these were being thrown out at the appeal level and some were being thrown out by simply writing a letter.

I found a website that contained a letter than someone wrote that got them out of the ticket and others had success with. I modified it and sent it along with my formal request for appeal:

I received a letter claiming I committed a red light violation in the City of Boynton Beach. As per the instructions, I requested a hearing as I was not the driver of the vehicle at the time.

Although this option is said to result in this matter going to court; it is my suggestion that the charges simply be dropped. This suggestion comes out of respect for tax payers, and my request that their hard earned money not be wasted in such proceedings. As there is no evidence of my involvement with this alleged “crime,” as well as the fact that I am not granted my 6th amendment right to face my “accuser” (a camera); I see no way the government can prove my guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

I also find no legal requirement for me to implicate someone else in this process, as it is the government’s responsibility to prove a person’s guilt. It’s also my 5th amendment right to remain silent on the matter.

If it is the government’s decision to move forward in this matter, I would request copies of any evidence the prosecution may have of my involvement in the “offense”; as well as, all maintenance records for the camera(s) involved.

A copy of the hearing letter is enclosed.

Thank you for your consideration.

Scott Sanfilippo

Needless to say, it didn’t work.

The morning of my appeal, I got up early, threw on a clean pair of underwear, (because if I got taken away for contempt of court, I wanted to go with a fresh pair) and headed to the Boynton Beach City Hall. Upon my arrival, I was face to face with more than a dozen angry citizens all the victims of the city’s red light extortion plan.

All of us had different stores:

“It was a work vehicle and it’s one of my employees driving, not me.”

“It was my daughter’s boyfriend driving the car.”

“My car was stolen and I can prove it wasn’t me or anyone in my family driving it.”

The fact of the matter is, nobody cares. Boynton Beach doesn’t care, they want your money. American Traffic Solutions doesn’t care, they want your money. The police officers in attendance don’t care, they are getting paid for sitting through the hearing. The magistrate doesn’t care, he’s getting paid for his time.

As we filed into the council chambers, there were about ten Boynton Beach police officers in attendance as well as a magistrate who went out of his way to tell us he’s not paid by the city. Before the hearing started, one of the police officers got up to explain the program.

He asked that we don’t take our frustrations out on the police officers as “this is not us, this is the City of Boynton Beach and I know you’re all frustrated. This was something city council put into place, not the police department.”

He also went on to say that unless we take the “deal” the magistrate is going to offer us today, we’re all going to end up paying even more if we ask the magistrate to hear our case. In essence, we’re all guilty and there is no chance in hell that we are going to be proved innocent even if Pope Francis walks into the room.

We were given a lesson in the law as well. The red light ticket does not come with points, will not be on a driver’s record and will not be shared with the auto insurance companies. The ticket is like a parking ticket, it goes with the car, not the driver. So Mickey Mouse could be driving your car, blow through a red light and the car’s owner is responsible for the ticket.

Still shady.

As of now, the $158 is up to $208 because I requested an appeal. The magistrate spoke and said that anyone who wants to pay $208 right now can do so and leave. That was his deal. Those who want to stick around and have a hearing can do so, but that will raise the cost of the ticket to $243.

At this point, I said the hell with it. For $35 more I’m going to take my frustrations out on the system whether the magistrate, the police or the aforementioned Pope care or not.

Several in attendance took the deal. A young mother, who held her crying baby the entire time stood up and asked if she could make payments. The magistrate told her, “the ticket is to be paid in full within 30-days, however, that is not a firm 30-days. But it will need to be paid before you renew your vehicle registration.”

No payment plan for her.

When the last of the deal makers were done caving into the City of Boynton Beach’s red light extortion program, it was my turn to face the judge.

They played the video which clearly shows (I was in my convertible) my bald head in the passenger seat and the driver sporting a full head of something I haven’t had since I was 19.

“As you can see, I am clearly not in the driver’s seat of that vehicle. If I were the driver, I would not be here today. I would have paid the fine and moved on. But for me to be ticketed for something I didn’t do is just wrong,” I said as the magistrate looked on.

I was asked who was driving and I refused to tell them who it was. That job is up to the police department to figure out, not me.

The judge told me in so many words, I don’t have a leg to stand on, pay us the money.

I ranted on about how this was nothing more than a money grab by Boynton Beach and in my nearly 30 years of driving, I have never been issued a ticket by an automated machine. I expounded on my clean driving record and called their money making scheme egregious.

They didn’t care. I was found guilty. I accepted my punishment and the bill for $243. But not before asking one more question.

“Can I pay the fine in pennies? Canadian preferably, because this is how you’re going to get paid.”

The judge smiled and said, “you will need to ask the cashier out front.”

Now here’s the kicker. Remember I told you earlier that the police officer explained how these tickets work and how it’s not the police department’s doing but city council’s? Well, he also told us that the city has decided to turn off all red light cameras city-wide effective at 11:59pm on December 31, 2016.

There is no bigger slap in the face that than.

Well, yes there is. It’s going to be my slap in the city’s face when I show up with cameras rolling and a news crew by my side when I pay the ticket with 24,300 pennies.

Unwrapped.

Stay tuned.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/i-fought-the-law-and-the-law-won-or-boynton-beachs-red-light-camera-extortion-plan/feed/9833Rebel House, Boca Ratonhttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/rebel-house-boca-raton/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/rebel-house-boca-raton/#respondFri, 04 Nov 2016 19:02:53 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9829I’ve pretty much been told to try the restaurant I’m talking about today since it first opened in 2012. Several of my friends have recommended it over the years and it’s been on my “gotta try” list for a while. So, when we were looking for a place to grab dinner and drinks this week, I asked another couple to join us at Rebel House in Boca Raton.

Rebel House is located on Palmetto Park Road near the corner of Palmetto and SE Mizner Blvd and is owned by the same folks who own the wildly popular burger joint, Charm City Burger in neighboring Deerfield Beach.

Its owners describe it as a full-service “Renegade” restaurant and bar, with the food being called “progressive and playful.” Those who have been there have told me the food and craft cocktails are great, so we set off to find out what Rebel House is all about.

I made a reservation for 8:15pm on Thursday through OpenTable. We arrived on time and instead of searching for a parking spot on the street, we opted for the complimentary valet.

There are a few tables outside under the covered patio and inside there are more tables and booths and a bar that seats around 10-15 people I would say. The décor is unique and the first thing that comes to mind is “road house.”

We checked in and made the last-minute decision to forgo a table and take up residence at the bar, where the bartender presented us with a cocktail list in a nice book and ratty, dirty, paper menus which looked like some have been used as placemats – kind of a fail for me.

Craft cocktails are one of the things that Rebel House highlights, so the first thing I started out with was their version of the classic Manhattan and my husband went with a standard dirty martini. My Manhattan was made with Maker’s Mark and served up with a cherry and the martini had just the right amount of “filth” in the Ketel One.

The bottom of the menu noted both lunch and dinner specials for each day of the week. Being “Throwback Thursday,” I asked what dish was tonight’s “Rebel take on classic American cuisine.” It happened to be a pork and beef meatball sub, which we happened to pass on.

The menu itself can be a bit confusing. There are starters, which the bartender told us can sometimes be as large as a full meal, then there are mains, favorites, appetizers, a special section for seasonal items which can be ordered individually or as a three course meal and then the “Taste of Rebellion” where “the kitchen takes you on a tour through what makes us culinary rebels” for $49 per person.

Food selections exist on both sides of the menu, so flip it over and explore.

From the “Munchies” section of the menu, we started off with the Pickle Jar ($4) – two pickle spears and an assortment of pickled veggies, peppers and onions that were pretty good. I did end up saving the pickled stuff in the bottom of the jar to add to the top of my salad. I think there could have been a few more pickle spears included.

Next, from the “To Start” section we chose Rebel Tso’s Brussels Sprouts ($10) – tiny bok choy, lap yuk bacon, soy ginger glaze, green chive and crispy garlic. Ok. Hands down… best thing we ate all night. The sprouts were cooked so they were just soft enough but not too hard and the sweet sauce that went with it rounded out this large dish. Recommended for sure.

The “Salt & Time” section of the menu featured a Charcuterie Platter ($13 small / $24 large) which contained assorted eats, cheeses, pickles and grilled ciabatta. This was an average starter, nothing really exciting or memorable about it.

From the “Where’s Fall? Menu” section, the next item we tried was the Tomato Toast ($8) – whipped ricotta, Calabrain chili, salumi vinaigrette. The dish was served with three pieces of “toast” and made for a nice, tasty take on the traditional Italian bruschetta.

On the recommendation of our bartender, I went with “The Burger.” Why? Because, as I noted earlier, Rebel House is owned by the folks who own Charm City Burger – a joint that packs them in all day long for what some say are the best burgers ever. She told me that this is the same burger they serve at Charm and is off the charts. So how could I go wrong?

“The Burger” is a Burger Beast blend burger topped with white American, Charm City sauce, pickled tomato, crispy onions, on a sesame bun and served with either hand-cut fries or a side salad. I opted for a salad and asked for my burger to be “well-done, burnt, killed.” She confirmed that I wanted it cooked that way. Unfortunately when it came out, it was cooked no more than medium-rare.

I ate it anyway, as I’m not one to send food back. But the build-up for the burger and the let down that followed, was a tad disappointing. However, the burger was very good despite it’s temperature. The flavor combos worked well together although I wasn’t sold on the addition of the pickled tomato, it was placed on the bottom of the bun which made it rather soggy. I got mine with added bacon, by the way. The only other comment here would be the quality of the bun could have been better. This was a pretty run of the mill burger bun holding a not-so run of the mill burger.

Next was the Orange-Turmeric Glazed Salmon ($27) – crispy baby bok choy, coconut rice, salmon skin sesame crumble, cilantro chutney. We opted to leave the salmon skin sesame crumble off. The salmon was of average size but had a very, very fishy taste to it. I’m not a fan of fish that tastes like fish, if you know what I mean. Usually salmon doesn’t have a strong fish taste to it, but this did. When I sampled the dish, the fish taste was too overpowering for me, but this wasn’t my entree, so I asked my husband what he thought. “It’s very fishy.” The sides were unremarkable.

Sometimes you go to one of those places where you have high expectations only to be let down. This was my experience with Rebel House.

A restaurant that was once on my “gotta try” list has been scratched off, but unfortunately it’s not on the “must return” list. There were too many things gone wrong, starting with the dirty menus. It may have been an off night. It may have been the norm. I may have had my expectations set too high due to the raves of my friends.

Whatever the case, I’d like to hear what you have to say if you’ve been there.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/rebel-house-boca-raton/feed/9829Pharmacy, Orlandohttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/pharmacy-orlando/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/pharmacy-orlando/#respondTue, 01 Nov 2016 21:33:12 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9822It’s not that often I find a restaurant that impresses me so much that it becomes one of those places that I frequent every week. But I found one and it never disappoints.

Some backstory here.

A few months ago, friends of mine in Orlando invited us to dinner at one of their favorite spots. They didn’t tell us where we were going but said it was great for “foodies.”

So off we went, meeting them in a bank parking lot next to the building that housed the eatery. We walked up to the place and there was no sign advertising where we were going, no nothing. Except for an elevator door.

When the button was pressed, bingo…. we were smack dab inside a speakeasy!

Inside was a small bar and a handful of tables. From the first sip and first bite, we were hooked and it’s become a spot we visit each weekend when up in Orlando.

Let’s start off talking about drinks. Simply put, they make good, strong cocktails – or as they call them, elixirs. Standard brands of alcohol are replaced with more obscure and homemade ones that yield to some awesome handcrafted drinks. There’s a drink menu where you can select some of Pharmacy’s versions of classics like my favorite, a Manhattan. There’s nothing “off the shelf” here when it comes to making drinks, their syrup, mixes, etc are all made in-house. Just remember, the drinks are strong!

A photo posted by scottsanfilippo (@scottsanfilippo) on Oct 1, 2016 at 7:04pm PDT

When it comes to food, come hungry. Their menu changes frequently, sometimes every week, which I tend to like because there’s always something new to try whether it’s an appetizer, entree, or dessert.

First, let’s tackle appetizers. One that’s been on the menu for a while now is the rock shrimp in a garlic sauce. These things may be hard to crack, but definitely worth it. The sweet flavor that these sea creatures are known for are complimented by the garlicky sauce they’re swimming in. If you’re a fan of what keeps vampires away, this one is for you.

Another main-stay is the cheese fondue served with a fresh baked sour dough bread. Here’s a tip… get this and the rock shrimp and use some of the bread to soak up some of the garlic sauce the shrimp are in. You won’t regret it. While I’m not a fondue guy, I did exactly that with the bread.

While you wouldn’t think this is the place to grab a pizza, there’s two on the menu that are worth checking out. The first is their Portuguese pizza that is topped with chorizo and a sunny side up egg. The other is a more traditional Margherita pizza that we usually order with bacon on top. Both of these pizzas are baked on a thin, crispy crust that is light enough to share as an appetizer and is large enough for your whole table to enjoy.

While the appetizers, drinks and pizza are great, it’s the entrees that really round out a perfect prescription at Pharmacy. I will give you a fair bit of warning, the portions are large. So if you’re going to order some appetizers, you may want to split them with others in your party to make room for the main event.

Hands down my favorite is the double-cut pork chop. The thing is huge! Juicy, tender, flavorful are three words that accurately describe it. It’s usually served with grits and collard greens which are equally good and make this for the ultimate comfort food dish. Oh, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the chop is topped with three equally large onion rings that aren’t the frozen and fried variety that most places serve up.

Second favorite on the menu and also a dish that has been around a while is their skillet strip steak. Cooked, as the name implies, in a skillet and served with a cous cous, the steak has a great flavor and a nice “crust” to it from its style of cooking.

The presentation of this particular dish as changed a bit. Originally it was brought out in the skillet, now the skillet has given way to a plate. Either way, it’s still a beefy entree worth checking out.

The dishes I highlighted here are ones that have been pretty much on the menu consistently. Like I said earlier, the menu changes frequently and there’s always a good balance between proteins and even some pasta.

Based on the amount of food you get served at Pharmacy, we’ve never had room for dessert.

If you plan on visiting, keep in mind the restaurant is small, so call ahead for reservations. If you pop in, you may be able to belly up to the bar and enjoy dinner and drinks there. Their website does not list their current menu, but they do post food pictures (even some of mine!) on their Facebook and Instagram pages so you can get an idea of what’s on the menu in a given week.

When in Orlando, don’t pass up the opportunity to stop by Pharmacy… I guarantee you it will be just what the doctor ordered.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/11/pharmacy-orlando/feed/9822Roots Italian Kitchen, Boca Ratonhttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/10/roots-italian-kitchen-boca-raton/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/10/roots-italian-kitchen-boca-raton/#respondFri, 28 Oct 2016 16:11:12 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9818I can’t figure out how a new Italian restaurant opened in Boca Raton and I didn’t know about it!

As I was stalking my friends on Facebook the other night, my news feed displayed a recommended page for me to “like” – Roots Italian Kitchen. I scratched my head a little and wondered how I missed this one. I browsed through their photos and my stomach started rumbling, especially when I saw “best gnocchi in Boca Raton.”

“Hey, want to check out a new Italian joint tomorrow night?” I yelled across the room.

Minutes later I had my OpenTable.com reservation set for 8:30pm. After all, any restaurant that has gnocchi and calls it “the best” is worth checking out.

Roots Italian Kitchen is located on Federal Highway in Boca Raton between Palmetto Park Road and Camino Real. It’s right on Federal, so you can’t miss it. They bill themselves as “always homemade” with most ingredients made in house including their mozzarella.

Let’s get one thing out of the way first, parking. It was a bit of a challenge to find a spot. With no parking on Federal and limited parking on the side streets, we had to drive around a bit to find a spot. It’s worth giving yourself some extra time, especially on a weekend, as there are some popular bars in the area that take up the parking spots.

We arrived a few minutes late (sorry!) and walked into the bright, open restaurant and was greeted and offered a choice of tables. There was a large party and a few other tables taken.

The décor is casual, with wooden tables, plenty of white and a large open kitchen where you can see the chef/owner preparing the meals – which is a plus for me. There’s also a bar and dessert area where those items are prepared. I use the term “bar” in the sense that it could technically be one, but it’s not used for that purpose. The restaurant doesn’t have a bar where one can belly up and enjoy a beverage, plus this is a beer and wine establishment, no liquor.

The manager/owner came by and told us about the evening features while we looked over the menu. Our server took our drink order and filled our glasses with water, and was on top of keeping them filled all evening. Some delicious garlic bread was brought to the table which we enjoyed while we took in the scent of homemade Italian food being prepared. It took me back to those Sundays when my father would spend the day making sauce and meatballs for Monday night’s dinner. I commented a couple times on how good the place smelled!

We started out with some Fried Calamari ($15) that was definitely not the usual frozen and thrown in the fryer variety you usually get at places. This was definitely fresh calamari with a crispy breading that yielded to calamari that was cooked just right. It wasn’t rubbery or tough… it was, well perfect and a bit on the spicy side. Oh, and don’t let me forget the sauce that was served with it. A large bowl of it which instantly made me regret that I didn’t order pasta. However, the remaining garlic bread was used to sop up the sauce! There was plenty of calamari here for two or more people. We actually didn’t finish it all.

Another appetizer we tried was the Parmiggiana di Melanzane ($16), or simply put, eggplant parm. The eggplant was sliced somewhat thick and wasn’t mushy. It was topped with melted cheese and more of the delicious pomodoro sauce. Another great choice for a starter.

I decided to try one of the evening’s features, Veal Scaloppine served with porcini mushrooms, gnocchi and spinach ($40). I had to get the gnocchi in there somehow! The dish itself was good. The veal was thin and tender, I found there to be too many large pieces of mushrooms and a lot of sauce. The potato gnocchi were spot on (firm and delicious) and yes, they were the best in Boca! Definitely going to get them as a main next time. The spinach was sautéed with garlic and I believe a bit of pancetta. Overall, not a bad choice, but the amount of mushrooms and sauce could have been cut way down to make this dish shine.

My husband ordered the salmon which was topped with shrimp and a lemon sauce. Again, a nice size portion of perfectly cooked fish. The shrimp were large and cooked just right. My only complaint with this dish was the amount of sauce. While it provided a nice lemony flavor to the seafood, it was all over everything.

With both of these entrees, the sauce should have taken a back seat to the protein and been used as an accent to the natural flavors of the veal and seafood. Instead, the amount of sauce on both seemed to be somewhat overpowering.

The dessert tray was presented and while I wanted to taste just about everything on it, we were stuffed.

Roots Italian Kitchen is a cozy spot to grab some solid, homemade Italian. With a few tweaks, I think I think it could be a bit better and compete with some of the Italian main-stays in Boca, like Matteo’s right across the street.

Our server and the staff were very friendly and both owners checked in on us throughout the night to see how everything was. There is still plenty to explore here, so we’re going to be back to give it another try very soon.

Next time for the gnocchi and meatballs!

Total check with wine: $180.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/10/roots-italian-kitchen-boca-raton/feed/9818The American Red Cross Once Again Disrespecting the American Flaghttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/10/the-american-red-cross-once-again-disrespecting-the-american-flag/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/10/the-american-red-cross-once-again-disrespecting-the-american-flag/#respondThu, 27 Oct 2016 18:12:01 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9814It was a little over a year ago that I noticed the American Red Cross office on Federal Highway (US1) in Boca Raton was flying a faded, tattered American flag. After calling attention to it here on my blog, the local news media picked up on it and shamed the Red Cross into replacing it.

At the time, I offered to provide them with a new flag whenever they needed it.

They never took me up on the offer, and it appears that they should have.

A video posted by scottsanfilippo (@scottsanfilippo) on Oct 27, 2016 at 11:03am PDT

To fly a flag in this condition is a slap in the face to the men and women who gave their lives for what it stands for and the brave Americans who are out fighting daily to protect our liberties.

It’s a sad day when we can’t even rely upon the American Red Cross to show our flag the respect it deserves.

To read about what happened the last time the American Red Cross in Boca Raton was confronted about this, be sure to click here to see photos and video.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/10/the-american-red-cross-once-again-disrespecting-the-american-flag/feed/9814“My Annual Blood Test = Angst.” Or, “Just Another Reason to Hate Obamacare.”http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/09/my-annual-blood-test-angst-or-just-another-reason-to-hate-obamacare/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/09/my-annual-blood-test-angst-or-just-another-reason-to-hate-obamacare/#respondWed, 21 Sep 2016 23:36:14 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9354(The following may contain terse language, politically incorrect statements and other things that may offend the easily offended (aka Democrats). Opinions expressed are mine and probably don’t represent yours if you work in human resources, the health insurance industry, or think Obamacare is the second coming of Bruce Willis.)

Ah, fall! The time of year where everyone’s thoughts turn to all things pumpkin spice. Except mine. My thoughts turn to the pre-cursor of health insurance open enrollment – the employer non-mandated, but mandated, voluntary, but not voluntary blood test.

My employer, like most employers these days jumped on the “wellness program” bandwagon as prescribed under Obamacare. Now in its third year, employees who opt into the company sponsored plan must submit to having their blood drawn for analysis. Now this is where the “non-mandated but mandated, voluntary but not voluntary” comes into play.

You don’t have to take the blood test and have the company know how healthy or unhealthy you are. But if you refuse, like I did the first year this was instituted, you get socked with a penalty. This penalty is cleverly disguised as a “wellness discount.”

The penalty is the equivalent of having a splintered two-by-four shoved up your ass, twisted around, ripped out then replaced by a rusty pipe and held in position for seven minutes before being removed leaving rusty particles behind that have to be removed with tweezers and a plumber’s wrench.

In other words, your insurance cost goes up $900 a year.

But it’s not a penalty! Take the blood test and get a “discount.”

Oh, if you smoke…. don’t bother taking the blood test, you’re not getting a discount at all and your rate already includes the $900.

So last year, I took the blood test, went online and provided my employer with height, weight, and waist measurements, as if I was getting a custom made suit for my efforts. After all, I didn’t want to make the already over-compensated executives at UnitedHealthcare any richer by giving them an additional $900 in premium.

The other day the lab order arrived in my email ahead of open enrollment, so I headed to the local LabCorp to have the blood draw done so my employer can learn a little more about me in return for that nine-hundred buck “reward, not a penalty” I’m due.

When my blood work comes back, I’ll get a call from the “Wellness Coach” to review it. If my cholesterol is too high and my lipids aren’t aligned with the health insurance lobbyists who are making a ton of money off this bullshit, I’ll have to take part in some nonsense telemedicine crap to learn about healthy eating and how to avoid Zika.

I’ll probably watch porn while the “coach” is going over all that so at least those precious moments of life that I’ll never get back will be enjoyable.

None of this existed before the health insurance disaster called Obamacare existed. In fact, my health insurance provider, UnitedHealthcare, recently announced they’re pulling out of the marketplace. Gee, I wonder why.

My health insurance has never covered less and cost more than it does since Obamacare became part of the American lexicon.

But those in favor of this system will tell you, “everyone now has coverage.”

That’s true. But at who’s expense?

I bet the Obamacare recipients don’t have to go through this “wellness” shit!

My bitching is over. It’s time to go eat a freaking box-full of Krispy Kreme Pumpkin Spice Donuts, followed by three pounds of bacon cooked in lard, three 10-piece McNuggets, four Big Macs and a Big , Big Gulp to wash it all down.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/09/my-annual-blood-test-angst-or-just-another-reason-to-hate-obamacare/feed/9354Sea Watch on the Ocean, Fort Lauderdalehttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/09/sea-watch-on-the-ocean-fort-lauderdale/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/09/sea-watch-on-the-ocean-fort-lauderdale/#respondTue, 20 Sep 2016 22:43:37 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9349There’s nothing like a drive along A1A on a warm evening. Put the top down on the convertible and enjoy the ride! One of our favorite things to do is take that drive from Delray down to Ft. Lauderdale and back. Each time we do, we pass a restaurant that we finally decided to make a reservation for – Sea Watch – which has been serving up seafood with an ocean view since 1974.

A photo posted by Sea Watch On the Ocean (@seawatch_ontheocean) on Jul 28, 2016 at 8:42am PDT

It was a Monday night and we grabbed a table at 8:30pm. We parked in the large parking lot that’s in front of the restaurant (there’s valet parking as well) and walked in. The hostess and maître d’ (warmly) greeted us and acknowledged that I requested a booth when I made our reservation.

Let’s start this off by saying the interior design of the restaurant is beautiful and modern with deep red leather booths and plenty of wood. Floor to ceiling windows look out on the Atlantic just 50 yards away. Unfortunately for us, it was dark outside so we couldn’t take advantage of what I can imagine is a beautiful view.

A photo posted by Sea Watch On the Ocean (@seawatch_ontheocean) on May 26, 2016 at 7:55am PDT

The restaurant is broken onto two floors, the main dining room downstairs and an upstairs bar and lounge that serves appetizers and cocktails.

We were taken to our booth and Phil our server came over to introduce himself and offer some suggestions on both wine and food. While we waited for our wine, we were brought over a bread basket with a selection of both pumpernickel and multi-grain breads which were both very good.

Based on Phil’s recommendation I started out with the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake ($16). There was no shortage of crab, although I felt there was a little too much mayo. It was flavorful, a very nice size portion, and delicious.

My husband went with the Crispy Calamari ($12) which was unremarkable. Pretty standard fried calamari with nothing done to it to make it stand out as being unique. I found some pieces to be pretty rubbery. Instead of serving it with the traditional red sauce, this version came with both a basil aioli and a soy ginger-sesame-lime-cilantro sauce.

For entrees, I went with Phil’s recommendation, which happened to be one of the evening’s features – stuffed Florida Grouper. I asked for it to be prepared a little on the well side, which they did. The fish was mild, flavorful and the crabmeat stuffing was a nice touch. It was accompanied by broccoli and carrots, which the carrots were a little overcooked. Overall, from someone who is not the biggest seafood fan, this was a great choice and I enjoyed every bite.

My husband opted to go for a little surf and turf and chose the top sirloin and lobster tail ($37). The tail was around 4oz and I would estimate the sirloin to be around 6oz. He asked for it to be cooked medium and it was. It was also accompanied by carrots and broccoli and the steak was topped with onion straws. Another great choice, although personally, I would prefer a filet over a sirloin.

We shared an order of french fries which were comparable to the delicious fries served at the Golden Arches! So get some of those with your dinner!

We didn’t save room for dessert, which is becoming a recurring theme lately!

Service was attentive but not obtrusive. Phil arrived just at our last sip of wine and returned quickly with another glass. His recommendations were spot-on and made for excellent choices.

Next time you’re out for a drive on A1A, or are looking for some great seafood, don’t pass by Sea Watch. We’ll definitely be back, but next time a little earlier so we can enjoy a great meal with an equally great view.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/09/sea-watch-on-the-ocean-fort-lauderdale/feed/9349Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay Gets a Major Overhaulhttp://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/08/norwegian-cruise-lines-great-stirrup-cay-gets-a-major-overhaul/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/08/norwegian-cruise-lines-great-stirrup-cay-gets-a-major-overhaul/#respondTue, 23 Aug 2016 16:09:06 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9345If you’re cruising on Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Norwegian Sky August 25 through October 20, 2016 and were hoping to stop at the line’s private island in the Bahamas, you’re out of luck. Great Stirrup Cay is set to go under the knife for some much needed rehab work which will have the ship calling on Nassau and Grand Bahama instead.

Neither is a destination that makes up the loss of a day on the Cay though!

I first visited Great Stirrup Cay in December 2014 during a cruise on the MSC Divina. Like many cruise lines with private islands in the Bahamas, they lease them out to other lines on days when their own ships aren’t calling on them, which is how I got there.

Having visited several of the cruise line owned islands in the Bahamas (Half Moon Cay, Castaway Cay, CoCo Cay, and Labadee), I honestly can say Great Stirrup Cay was my least favorite. To quote my review from that day:

I was a tad disappointed with the island and I kept comparing it to other’s I’ve been to as I journeyed around in the soft, white sand. There really isn’t a “welcoming” feeling upon arrival at the island. Other islands have a nice, colorful welcome center, with bright signs directing you where to go. I didn’t see anything like that here. I wasn’t getting the “island paradise” vibe I’ve gotten on other islands. I tried to pin-point exactly what it was that was turning me off and just couldn’t pick out one thing.

Perhaps it was the lack of color? Most of the islands buildings were painted tan, unlike other islands where multiple colors are used on buildings to make them bright and cheery. The huts where islanders were selling souvenirs and offering hair braiding were different colors, but that was about it. The other buildings for water sports rentals, food, etc., were all drab and unremarkable.

There was a Bacardi bar that looks like it is a recent addition which was done up quite nicely, but then again, it lacked color. Even the private cabanas were all the same dull, drab, tan. The best way I can describe things is to say the facilities were Army-like. The food service building, where a buffet lunch was being served, reminded me of a mess hall, with long lines of people carrying trays waiting to be served their gruel.

So it’s exciting to see that Norwegian is investing some money into making Great Stirrup Cay more enjoyable for their guests. So what can visitors expect to find once the island reopens?

Renovations of existing bars and restaurants with increased seating capacity

New lockers and restrooms in the tender boat area

In addition, Norwegian is introducing the Lagoon Retreat, a private beach area complete with a spa and villas that can be rented by the day. The Retreat is for the exclusive use of those passengers staying in the Haven and other suites on the ship along with those who purchase spa services on the island. If you’re not staying in one of those stateroom categories, a handful of passes will be offered for sale on a first-come-first-sold basis.

The new Lagoon Retreat will feature a swim-up bar, private beach area, a free restaurant that also features a private room for special events and more.

Not all areas will be complete when the island re-opens in October. Some of the more intense renovations, such as the Retreat, will be open in early 2017.

For more about the enhancements being made to Great Stirrup Cay, click here to read the announcement from NCL.

No doubt it’s exciting to see these additions and enhancements being made to Great Stirrup Cay, especially since I felt they were direly needed. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing the island again and hopefully having a different opinion on it on my next visit.

]]>http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/08/norwegian-cruise-lines-great-stirrup-cay-gets-a-major-overhaul/feed/9345“I Lived A Great Life.” Or, “Remembering My Father.”http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/08/i-lived-a-great-life-or-remembering-my-father/
http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/2016/08/i-lived-a-great-life-or-remembering-my-father/#respondTue, 16 Aug 2016 17:08:26 +0000http://www.scottsanfilippo.com/?p=9340I’ve written many things over the years, but perhaps the hardest piece I had to write was my own father’s obituary. Dad passed away on Friday after a remarkable run of 91 years. I was fortunate enough to see him just a few weeks before he died.

What was supposed to be a fun weekend to celebrate my birthday – and his – turned out to be one filled with mixed emotions. My fiance and I planned a trip up to Pennsylvania to hit some amusement parks and take Dad and the family out for dinner to celebrate. Instead, just days before our arrival Dad landed in the hospital, his body unable to fight the cancer that he beat the first time more than 20 years ago.

The man who just a year ago joyfully celebrated his 90th birthday was laying in a hospital bed, almost unrecognizable. His firm handshake was reduced to just a mere touch. His strong, booming voice, was nothing more than a whisper. The stories he remembered so well and told us time after time… well, he still remembered those!

A photo posted by scottsanfilippo (@scottsanfilippo) on Jul 26, 2015 at 11:07am PDT

Dad was never one to show emotion and was someone who even if he was sick as a dog would say, “I’m doing great!” When I would talk to him on the phone while he was in the hospital and later in hospice, he was always “hanging in there,” even though he knew that wasn’t the case.

The last time I saw my father was on July 22nd, the day before his birthday. We stopped at the hospital to see him before we headed out of town. We chatted for a while. I listened as he told those stories he told so many times before. And we laughed. When it was time to leave, I walked over to him, gave him a hug and said, “Dad, I love you.”

As tears began to flow, he yelled, “stop, Scott! None of that, you hear me?”

That strong, booming voice came back to reprimand me one more time.

I obeyed.

Over the course of the next few weeks, his condition worsened and he was moved to hospice. I called to check in and see how he liked his “new apartment.” He said, “Scott, this place is beautiful! And they are taking really good care of me here.”

That was one of the last conversations we had where he could speak.

My father was humble. He spent his entire life as a salesman for the former Standard Brands which went on to become Nabisco. Day in and day out he would be in his car calling on prisons, hospitals, schools and restaurants. He knew every restaurant, every cook, every owner. He knew which kitchens were dirty and which were clean.

A photo posted by scottsanfilippo (@scottsanfilippo) on Jun 21, 2015 at 9:50am PDT

He and my mother raised four children. Me being the youngest – separated by 13 years. I pretty much grew up as the “only child” and, beyond a doubt, was spoiled. Mom and dad worked every day to support their family and we never did without.

I remember during the summer when I would be off of school, Dad would sometimes take me to work with him. Like the proud father he was, he would take me into the various businesses he called on, sometimes having to answer the question with “no, that’s my boy,” when he would be asked if I was his grandson!

He saved up from the day I was born to send me to college – debt free. I was going to be the one who they were going to put through school and get a degree. When the time finally came, I didn’t want to go. I was never a good student and I remember coming home every day during that first semester begging my parents to let me drop out.

There would be none of that.

My mother and father got to see me graduate in 1993 and neither one could have been prouder. I could have been a better student, but they were still proud.

Things changed in 1995 when my mother died of cancer. My father never truly recovered from losing the love of his life. After her death, his house filled with pictures of her and memories of the times they spent together.

“If your mother were only here to see this,” would be something we heard a lot after her death.

As I started my own businesses, there was nobody prouder of my accomplishments than my father. Being a guy who never let his emotions show, he never said, “Scott I’m proud of you.” Instead I heard it from his friends who would always tell me how much my father would talk about me and how proud he was of everything I did.

That was good enough for me.

Dad would come around to the various businesses I had and would walk around, talk to the employees and “keep and eye on things” as he would say. He got to know many of them personally and would often ask about them after they went on to a different career path.

Seeing my dad in the hospital was tough. Getting the call from my brother to write that obit was even tougher. I didn’t know what to say, or how to say it. But during the last conversation I had with my father he said something to me that stuck. We talked about how he was feeling, he told me I needed to accept that fact that he wasn’t going to get any better, and in his own way of offering some bit of consolation to me he said, “Scott, I lived a great life.”

Those words were the ones that I would remember my father by, and were the words used to describe his time here on Earth in his obituary.

He truly did live a great life.

At his grave, once the Navy finished their memorial service and the flag that draped his casket was presented to my oldest brother, it was time to say that final goodbye.

I walked over. Laid my hand on the casket. Cried and said, “Dad, I love you.”

A photo posted by scottsanfilippo (@scottsanfilippo) on Aug 16, 2016 at 10:02am PDT

KINGSTON — Frank J. Sanfilippo, 91, a resident of Kingston, died Friday, Aug. 12, 2016, at Celtic Hospice Inpatient Unit at Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre. He died after living what he called “a great life.”

Mr. Sanfilippo was born in Atlantic City, N.J., son of the late Ignazio and Margherita (Calore) Sanfilippo, and was a graduate of Elmer L. Meyers High School, Wilkes-Barre. He served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and was discharged as a coxswain in 1946. He received the Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon, the Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. Returning to civilian life, he was a salesman with Standard Brands Corporation, Wilkes-Barre, later Nabisco for many years and retired in 2004.

Frank was a member and a longtime usher at St. Ignatius Church, Kingston, and was also a member and past president of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Restaurant Association for many years and was a board member and served several terms as secretary and one as president. He was a member of Post No. 283, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kingston. He was also the honorary “mayor” of the River Street McDonald’s coffee group that met five days a week and will miss Frank terribly. The group would talk politics, world affairs and sports over their coffee.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (Proudlove) Sanfilippo, who died in 1995; also by a brother, Carl Sanfilippo; and sister, Helen Calore.

A military funeral will be held Monday, Aug. 15. Funeral Mass at 9 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church, Kingston. Private interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carverton. Also, those going to the funeral Mass are asked to go directly to the church on Monday.

The family requests that flowers be omitted and that memorial donations in Frank’s name be made to St. Ignatius Church, 339 N. Maple Ave., Kingston, PA 18704; or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

The family would also like to extend their thanks to Dr. Citi, Dr. Pernikoff and the nurses on the fifth floor of the General Hospital and at the fifth floor of Celtic Hospice for their kindness in caring for our Father in his last days.